Dubai Gets New Pedestrian Bridge

One of seven footbridges built by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) with the goal of improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety in the city has now been opened.

One of the new footbridges, with a total length of 888 metres, will connect Al Khaleej Street to the area near Dubai Hospital at the intersection of Omar Bin Khattab and Abu Bakr Al Siddique streets.

The design will include high-tech electric lifts, alarm and firefighting systems and remote monitoring facilities in addition to dedicated bike paths and racks.

Each bridge will boost of distinct designs in keeping with the unique characteristics of the neighbourhood.

Out of the six currently under construction, one is being built on Al Mina Street between the Al Saqr and Al Mina intersections, another is being built on Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street between the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street and the Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street, and a third is being built on Ras Al Khor Road to connect the Creek Harbour with the Ras Al Khor Industrial Area.

"The construction of footbridges seeks to reduce fatalities from run-over accidents to as low as zero by providing infrastructure and safety measures for motorists and cyclists," highlighted Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA.

The number of footbridges has increased more than tenfold in the last 17 years, from 13 in 2006 to 129 at the end of 2022.

RTA plans to construct 36 more footbridges, bringing the total number of pedestrian bridges to 165 bridges by 2026, noted Al Tayer.